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World Leaders, Top Diplomats at Munich Security Conference; Israel's Arab Communities Demand Government Action; U.K. Judges Rule Anti-Terror Ban on Protest Group Unlawful; Reza Pahlavi Takes Stage at Munich Security Conference; U.S. Energy Secretary Pitches Investment in Venezuela's Oil Sector; Manchester United Co-Owner Sparks Outrage with Comments on U.K. Immigration; Open Masters Games Features Dhow Sailing Competition; Events Company Wants Singles to Ditch Dating Apps. Aired 10a-11a ET

Aired February 13, 2026 - 10:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

[10:00:23]

ANNOUNCER: Live from CNN Abu Dhabi, this is CONNECT THE WORLD with Becky Anderson.

BECKY ANDERSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: Well, welcome to the second hour of the show from our Middle East programming headquarters. I am Becky

Anderson in Abu Dhabi where the time is just after 7:00 in the evening.

Hundreds of leaders and top diplomats at the Munich Security Conference today face a daunting task. How to confront a world order that conference

security experts say is under destruction and the delegates face challenges not seen since the end of the Cold War. Excuse me.

The conference is happening amidst what security experts are calling an era of wrecking ball politics led by, quote, "demolition men," most notably

U.S. President Donald Trump, a lot sobering assessment backed up by Germany's chancellor in his opening remarks.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

FRIEDRICH MERZ, GERMAN CHANCELLOR (through translator): You've chosen a grim macho for this conference, under destruction, and it probably means

that the international order based on rights and rules is currently being destroyed. But I'm afraid we have to put it in even harsher terms. This

order, as flawed as it has been even in its heyday, no longer exists.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is representing his country in Munich. He says, "Nations are living in a new era of geopolitics and

must adjust." Rubio will address delegates tomorrow.

Reza Pahlavi, the son of Iran's last shah, will take the stage at the Munich Security Conference in a few hours. Pahlavi has been living in exile

since his father was ousted in the 1979 Revolution, when he was just 16 years old. As Iranians have grown more fed up with the regime over the past

several years, he's worked to position himself as a leading opposition figure, and during the protests last month people could be heard shouting,

"This is the last battle. Pahlavi will return."

He is, though, a divisive figure and it is unclear how much support he actually has in Iran given one of his high profile backers is Israeli Prime

Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

OK. I want to get to the Munich Security Council now and discuss all of this. CNN's chief international anchor Christiane Amanpour joining us live

from the conference, where she will sit down with Reza Pahlavi for a one- on-one interview later.

Christiane, before we talk about that interview, I do just want to get the atmosphere from you if you will. We ran some sound from the German

chancellor at the beginning. Pretty sobering remarks, it has to be said. Just describe how it feels and what are you -- what you are hearing there

and how you believe, for example, the Europeans are framing this.

CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR, CNN CHIEF INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: Well, you know, leading the European opening remarks anyway is the chancellor of this

country. And he basically said, this world that we've relied on for the last 80 years no longer exists. And then Marco Rubio, as you said, said,

you know, and he was just coming off the plane, he hasn't addressed the conference yet but everybody is waiting to see what his tone will be, what

his words will be.

Will he try to patch up this very, very ruptured transatlantic alliance, particularly since this time last year when J.D. Vance, the vice president,

came and delivered a broadside to his allies. They were stunned in the room. I was here and I saw these shell shocked people coming out of the

room after J.D. Vance's address, and basically criticized European allies, said they weren't paying enough attention and giving enough space to the

very far extreme right, accused European allies of essentially destroying themselves from within, that it wasn't Russia's fault, it was their own

fault.

It was truly one of the most extraordinary turn geopolitics in 80 years of a transatlantic alliance on its head moment. So that's why everybody is

waiting to see how Marco Rubio frames the current state of affairs. And let's not forget that every single official who says that the world isn't

the same as it used to be, and we have to try doing things different, there's one reason and only one reason for that, and that is the current

president of the United States, because his mission and his administration is to actually basically pull out of that order and destroy it according to

what the Munich Security Conference report said.

[10:05:16]

It's an era of destruction, and it's being done from the side that actually launched it 80 years ago, which was the United States. The question is,

what is the plan B? It's one thing to destroy and say you got to do this, you got to do that, we're no longer going to be here for you for this, that

or the other. But then what do you do in its place? How do you rebuild something that is good for all sides?

And I think there's a sense amongst many Americans that this transatlantic alliance has been not just good for Europe and other allies, but for

America itself. So this is not just a one-way street. And so everybody really is waiting to see with bated breath somewhat what happens tomorrow.

ANDERSON: You just referenced that speech from J.D. Vance, and you and I, I remember, talking about that speech in the wake of it last year, and it was

really quite something. So a year on and ahead of this trip, Marco Rubio describing transatlantic ties as facing a defining moment, but his tone was

and some are describing it as slightly warmer. He said the U.S. is deeply tied to Europe. Our futures have always been linked and will continue to be

so.

Do you see that as or do you believe that those at the conference at least will see that as somewhat comforting ahead of hearing from him later today?

AMANPOUR: Well obviously they're hoping not to be slapped with a broadside like they were last year. They're hoping that Marco Rubio, who is in fact

obviously by his job the top diplomat of the United States. So they're hoping for something more diplomatic. But I think people do not think that

Marco Rubio will in any way distance himself from President Trump's policies. He might say things in a slightly different way than Vance did

but I don't think they think he's going to distance himself.

And let's be absolutely clear what's been happening, you know, spurred on by Trump over the last year. You've seen Ukraine essentially being sold out

by President Trump. Here Vance had said, I don't much care what happens to Ukraine. I mean, that was the posture this time last year. And you've seen

that play out over the last year. And if anything, this administration be much warmer to the aggressor Russia than to the victim Ukraine. So that's

going to be a big deal.

And I have Zelenskyy and the head of NATO, Mark Rutte, on a panel tomorrow. So it'll be interesting to hear that. But then of course, you've had the

American, you know, almost -- well, it was a red line for Europe, the insistence by the president that Greenland had to be American. It had to be

part of the United States. You remember a month or so ago in Davos, he said then, well, I'm not going to use military force and I'm not going to impose

tariffs on those countries and those allies who disagree.

But they don't think this Greenland issue has gone away. And that is a red line. And it did stiffen the spines of many, many Europeans and caused them

actually to pretty much come together and reject that. But that was a big deal. And it frightened a lot of people because it was a might makes right

kind of threat. And if that is going to be the future, then they have got to figure out how to build an alternative that doesn't rely on the United

States, but that can defend themselves.

You know, there's a couple of very worrying side effects to all of this U.S. alliance bashing and that is pushing traditional allies into the arms

of China, which just about everybody on the transatlantic side of the alliance believes is the main threat to their prosperity and their security

-- Becky.

ANDERSON: Christiane, I'm going to have to let you go. But we referenced the fact that you have, you know, a number of big interviews coming up, not

least that with Reza Pahlavi. And as Trump builds a huge armada off Iran's coast while still pushing for talks, I just want our viewers to know that

they can tune into your interview with Reza Pahlavi, who is the son of Iran's last shah, at 12:45 p.m. Eastern time. That is 6:45 p.m. in Munich.

Thank you, Christiane.

I want to bring in former U.S. ambassador to NATO, Kurt Volker, from Munich now.

I've just been talking to Christiane about sort of atmospherics leading up to this Munich Security Council. We will get a real steer on the framing

both from the Europeans and the U.S. as this thing kicks off later today.

[10:10:07]

I just wonder what message you believe the U.S. is sending to its allies in Munich at this point.

KURT VOLKER, FORMER U.S. AMBASSADOR TO NATO: Right. So thank you very much for having me. And first, let me say, I think Christiane did a very good

job describing the way the Europeans are feeling and looking at this right now. It may be a bit emotional and exaggerated but that is the reality that

we have here.

What I think Marco Rubio and the other members of the U.S. delegation that are here are trying to do is say that we do need to work together. We do

want to see a strong transatlantic relationship. But the world has indeed changed in many ways, and we have to deal with that together. So it is not

backing down in any way from some of the issues that the Trump administration has been pressing but trying to frame that in a way that we

need to pull ourselves together to deal with this.

The Europeans look at having to develop more defenses on their own because they're not sure about the United States. The United States is saying,

well, Europe does need to develop more defenses on its own because they've been too reliant on the United States for so long. So even though we're

talking slightly different languages, there is still a lot of common ground here about what people think we should be doing next.

ANDERSON: Yes. Well, the U.S. and European relationship has changed a lot in Trump's second term. Let's be quite frank. I mean, he telegraphed this

in his first administration back in 2016. I just wonder whether this now, today in Munich, is an opportunity to fix that or do you believe that

relationship could be hindered further?

VOLKER: I think it's something in between. I don't think that people even if they hear the right words from Marco Rubio, will believe that were now

out of the woods. Things are back to normal. They're still going to be looking at President Trump, and they see this second term of the Trump

presidency as being one where President Trump himself is the single decisive voice and so you can hear from lots of other people, but you don't

really know for sure what President Trump is going to say or do. And they are concerned about that.

So I don't think it's repairable under the current circumstances. However, it can be mitigated. People can develop strategies for how to work

together. We can set agendas together, and we can continue this way for some time to come.

ANDERSON: Marco Rubio said that he might meet Zelenskyy during this trip. This as Kyiv and Moscow have confirmed trilateral peace talks continue,

this time in Geneva Tuesday and Wednesday. Just want you to have a listen to what Rubio said.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MARCO RUBIO, U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE: That's terrible. It's a war. That's why we want the war to end. People are suffering. It's the coldest time of

year. It's unimaginable, the suffering. That's the problem with wars. That's why wars are bad. And that's why we worked so hard for over a year

now to try to bring this one to an end.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Based on your experience, what would have to be on the table for those talks to be more than mere optics at this point?

VOLKER: Right. We have to be laying out very clearly a demand that there be an immediate ceasefire, Russia needs to stop the war. What Marco Rubio just

said in those remarks there was very neutral in tone, as if the war just is some generic thing that happens, and no one is to blame or no one is

responsible. The reality is that Russia launched this war. Russia continues this war. Ukraine would like it to end, and they are prepared for an

immediate ceasefire.

Russia wants to keep taking territory and still has maximalist demands against Ukraine. So you have to give President Trump credit. He's done a

lot of things that are positive in the past year about Russia's war against Ukraine. He's got everyone talking about a peace agreement. He's done this

minerals deal with Ukraine. He's called for a ceasefire in place at times, and Ukraine is willing to accept a ceasefire.

He's got Europeans willing to provide a coalition of the willing to deter future Russian attacks if there is a ceasefire. But the one thing we have

not done is put any pressure on Vladimir Putin to get him to stop the war and that is the central issue, because the only reason there is a war is

because Putin is waging it against Ukraine.

ANDERSON: Denmark's prime minister says that she will meet with Secretary of State Marco Rubio to discuss Greenland. How significant is it that this

issue is now part of high level diplomatic talks, or to a degree, do you believe that that's been sort of pushed off these sort of high table, as it

were?

[10:15:06]

VOLKER: No, I think it's very significant that they are meeting and discussing this and doing it at that level. And if anyone thinks that this

issue has been resolved, they should think again. President Trump is the decider, and he has said repeatedly he still wants to own Greenland, in one

way or another we want to get that as many of us have said or written over weeks and months now, there's no reason why the U.S. needs to own

Greenland.

Everything we need for American security and Arctic security, we can do now under the existing agreements that we have with Denmark. Any access to

minerals we want we can have as long as we're willing to go through a few hundred feet of ice. So there's no obstacle here. But if we do nothing in

these talks and it drifts and there's no new proposal, there's no common approach to what we're doing, I think we should expect Donald Trump to come

back to the issue of ownership yet again.

So I would hope that our Danish allies are now thinking very hard about the analysis of what the security situation is today. What's likely 15 years

from now? What's the posture that would be ideal to have on Greenland from a NATO point of view? What is the U.S. prepared to do? What is Denmark

prepared to do? But we should be working this very actively in these diplomatic talks now to prevent falling back into that situation where

President Trump is talking about ownership.

ANDERSON: It's good to have you, sir. Your analysis and insight so important to us. Thank you very much indeed.

Well, up next, a surge in violent crime is fueling anger in Israel's Arab communities. Why protesters say the government is failing to act.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANDERSON: Well, a wave of protests is sweeping across Israel, this time over a surge in violent crime in the country's Arab communities.

Palestinian citizens of Israel, who make up about 20 percent of the population, accounted for more than 80 percent of last year's murder

victims. Demonstrators accused the government of inaction and discrimination, claims that officials reject.

CNN's Jeremy Diamond joining us from Tel Aviv with more -- Jeremy.

JEREMY DIAMOND, CNN JERUSALEM CORRESPONDENT: Well, Becky, it's really been over the last two years that we have seen a very sharp rise in crime, with

violent crime, within Israel's community of Palestinian citizens of Israel. But it's really reached a boiling point over the course of the last few

weeks, not only as the murder rate has continued to tick up, but as many have now taken to the streets across Israel to demand action from the

Israeli government.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DIAMOND (voice-over): A groundswell of protests erupting across Israel, this time demanding action on an issue these protesters say the government

is ignoring.

[10:20:08]

A surge of violent crime in Israel's Arab communities. The demonstrators are mostly Palestinian citizens of Israel, Muslims and Christians who make

up about 20 percent of the country. And yet, last year, they accounted for more than 80 percent of all murder victims. 252 Palestinian citizens of

Israel were murdered last year. 45 more have been killed this year alone, and violence that officials say is largely driven by Arab organized crime

groups. But this is the most alarming statistic. Israel's police solves only 15 percent of those murders, compared to 65 percent when the victim

was Jewish.

If your son was a Jewish citizen of Israel, so you believe -- within an hour.

QASSEM AWAD, BEREAVED FATHER (through translator): You're asking me, if my son was Jewish, how long it would take? One hour, that's all.

DIAMOND (voice-over): Qassem Awad had been waiting for more than an hour for justice. His son was murdered more than a year ago. Dr. Abdullah Awad

was treating patients inside a clinic in Northern Israel when a masked gunman came in and shot him. His father says there's no reason why his son

would be a target.

"Why until now do we not have any information? We have nothing," Awad says. "The police came the first few days and said they would follow up, but they

never did. The crime and violence in the Arab Palestinian community is orchestrated by the Israeli state. Let them kill each other while we sit

back and relax."

DIAMOND: The police will say, though, that there is a problem in the Arab community as well. What do you say to that?

(Voice-over): "Why are these issues happening in Arab communities to begin with, upgrade our schools, upgrade our safety and security. If you did all

these things, people won't think about violence or crime or protection. They'll think about living."

At this protest in the Arab Town of Sakhnin, there is anger at Palestinian organized crime, but above all, at Israel's right-wing government.

Among the chants that we've been hearing at this demonstration have been against Itamar Ben-Gvir, the Minister of National Security, who so many

here hold responsible for the inaction, they say, of Israel's police force, a policy that they say is deliberately aimed at increasing crime among Arab

communities in Israel.

(Voice-over): Ben-Gvir rejects any responsibility, instead blaming local Arab leaders for turning a blind eye to crime. But murders in Arab society

have sky rocketed on his watch, more than doubling since he took office in December 2022.

Aida Touma, a Palestinian member of Israel's Parliament, sees a direct link.

AIDA TOUMA-SULEIMAN, MEMBER OF ISRAELI PARLIAMENT: I believe there is a very racist policy that is committed by the government. It's not a double

standard anymore. It's a policy that they know what they are doing. They want these criminal groups to control our society, to fragmentize us and to

kill more of us.

DIAMOND (voice-over): At this peaceful protest, Israeli police are out in force. Resources the residents here wish were put to better use.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

DIAMOND: And these protests certainly have gotten reactions from top Israeli officials. We've seen the Israeli president, Isaac Herzog, visit

some of these communities in recent weeks. And just yesterday, Israel's police commissioner said that the situation of violent crime within Arab

society is a situation of national emergency. But for now it has yet to actually dent the increase in crime. Israeli media reporting today that

there were six murders in just the last 24 hours -- Becky.

ANDERSON: Jeremy, good to have you. Thank you.

Well, now to London, where the group Palestine Action has won a challenge in the high court against being banned by the U.K. government. Judge has

ruled that the decision to prescribe the group under anti-terrorism legislation was unlawful and disproportionate. Now, you may have seen

images like this, elderly protesters holding handwritten signs, reading, I oppose genocide, I support Palestine Action.

More than 2,000 people have been arrested at demonstrations like this. Today's ruling is a major victory for civil liberties campaigners, who say

the ban went too far, risked criminalizing dissent and set a dangerous precedent. Supporters of the campaign gave their reaction to the ruling.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I just think this is a magnificent day for everybody, not from a partisan point of view, but for democracy, because everyone who

saw all those thousands of people carried into police vans in Parliament Square, everyone in Britain felt this isn't Britain.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're in peaceful civil resistance. Everything about us is peaceful. We are -- we oppose genocide. We oppose terrorism of all

kinds. We oppose human rights violations. That's why we're here.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Obviously, it's amazing, isn't it? And a bit of, yes, a bit of good news in an absolutely mad chaotic world isn't it?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: With us live is Huda Ammori, the co-founder of Palestine Action.

You launched the challenge against the government. I want to know how significant you believe today's ruling is.

HUDA AMMORI, CO-FOUNDER, PALESTINE ACTION: Yes, I mean, it's huge. It's a massive, massive victory. We couldn't ask for anything more. It's proven

that the ban was unlawful since its inception and we always knew, many people knew that this ban was unjust. But today it has proven to be

unlawful.

ANDERSON: Well, in a statement, British Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood certainly she doesn't agree with you. She said, and I quote here, "I have

the deepest respect for our judiciary. Home secretaries must however retain the ability to take action to protect our national security and keep the

public safe. I intend to fight this judgment in the court of appeal."

Do you accept the Home secretary's views that the actions of your group or at least some who have been demonstrating and acting under the auspices of

Palestine Action are a risk to national security?

AMMORI: Not at all. Palestine Action targeted the Israeli weapons industry specifically Elbit Systems, Israel's biggest weapons manufacturer, who

market their weapons as tested on the Palestinian people. Our actions targeted those operations and shut them down to save lives in Palestine, to

prevent war crimes, crimes which were being committed by the government despite them being fully aware of the war crimes being committed and

continuing to be committed against the Palestinian people.

ANDERSON: Yes, you've said that, and I quote here, "Banning Palestine Action was always about appeasing pro-Israel lobby groups and weapons

manufacturers and nothing to do with terrorism." Your supporters have deliberately targeted arms company Elbit Systems.

Can you explain how you argue that direct action against Elbit is justified, and how you distinguish that, for example, from criminal damage?

AMMORI: Yes. So criminal damage implies that the damage in itself is criminal, whereas when we damage the weapons factories, Israeli weapons

factories, we are doing it to prevent crimes, which makes it lawful. And we have been in front of juries many times on different cases on charges of

criminal damage, who have acquitted people once they've understood that they acted to save lives in Palestine.

Ultimately, we are only acting because these crimes are able to happen right in our towns and cities, and we see it as our duty to intervene and

to shut down these weapons factories. And, you know, it's basic human instinct. If people saw a building on fire with children inside, you would

smash that door to save them. You wouldn't care about the value of the door. It wouldn't be criminal damage. And it's exactly the same principle

that we apply when taking direct action against the Israeli weapons trade.

ANDERSON: Nearly 3,000 people have been arrested for supporting Palestine Action. We still don't know what the ruling means for their cases. What do

you understand to be the next steps?

AMMORI: Yes, so because the high court has ruled that the ban was unlawful since its inception, it means all of those arrests were technically

unlawful. The British government used the British taxpayers' money in order to unlawfully prosecute and arrest thousands of its own citizens. The next

step, as you know, the now Home secretary wants to appeal, which is only going to create more chaos in the courts. And we will also be applying to

have a stay of the order, which means stopping -- lifting the ban whilst the appeal, whilst any appeal takes place, if they get permission.

[10:30:04]

So we are in a bit of legal limbo at the moment, but this is a huge victory and it's only a matter of time before the ban is lifted for good. And all

of those people who were falsely arrested receive justice.

ANDERSON: Right. It's good to have you. Thank you very much indeed.

Ahead on CONNECT THE WORLD, the U.S. Secretary of State is in Germany for the annual Munich Security Conference. Marco Rubio called it a defining

moment in transatlantic ties. Hear what else he is saying after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANDERSON: Welcome back. You're watching CONNECT THE WORLD with me, Becky Anderson. Your headlines this hour.

And Germany's chancellor says the rules based international order no longer exists. Friedrich Merz spoke at the opening of the annual Munich Security

Conference. He says despite the big rift between the U.S. and Europe opened by U.S. President Donald Trump, the U.S. cannot go it alone and called on

both sides to revive transatlantic trust.

The FBI is sharing new identifying details about the suspect in the disappearance of the 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie. Investigators say they are

looking for a man who is just under 1.8 meters tall and has an average build, and was carrying an Ozark trail hiker backpack. Authorities have

also increased the reward on tips leading to his arrest to $100,000.

A partial shutdown is about to hit the U.S. Department of Homeland Security or DHS. Lawmakers are at an impasse over the Democrats' demands for changes

to the Trump administration's immigration crackdown. Members of Congress left town Thursday for what is an 11-day recess with DHS funding set to run

out at midnight tonight and no deal in sight.

Let me get you back to the news of the day and the start of what is an annual security conference in Munich. Couldn't be more important this year.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio representing the U.S. there ahead of the conference. He said nations are living in an era of geopolitics, a new era

of geopolitics, and must adjust. He also affirmed, though, the U.S. is deeply tied to Europe and that their futures, he said, will remain linked.

Frederik Pleitgen back with us this hour from Munich.

[10:35:00]

And Fred, just as we concentrate our efforts keenly on the -- what feels like a widening rift between the U.S. and its NATO allies, the U.S., of

course, and Marco Rubio will be keenly aware of this has a huge armada parked off the region where I am at this point, threatening Iran just as

Donald Trump looks to continue indirect talks between Tehran and Washington.

Just want to lean into your recent experience in Iran. You were there as the only Western journalist for a period of time. Reza Pahlavi will be

speaking later, the son of the last shah. You -- how do you believe he's positioning himself now that the U.S. has resumed nuclear talks with Iran

and certainly Donald Trump is showing some enthusiasm for a diplomatic off ramp?

FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, it certainly seems as though, first of all Reza Pahlavi, of course, speaking

later to our own Christiane Amanpour here at the Munich Security Conference, definitely one of the bigger events here on this first day of

the security conference. And it seems to me as though he's trying to position himself as the sort of opposition figure in waiting to go into

Iran, if indeed the United States makes a military move.

Now, of course, all of that is very much laced, if you will, with a lot of uncertainty and a lot of dangers as well. You alluded to the fact that

there's a huge armada that's not only parked outside of Iran, but actually getting bigger, with the president apparently now ordering the Gerald Ford,

the U.S.'s biggest aircraft carrier, into that region as well.

There are, as you know, Becky, in your region, a lot of countries, in fact most of the countries there that want to try to avert a military

confrontation and that are doing everything diplomatically to try and make that happen. Of course, we know that there has already been a round of

talks in Oman, where both sides afterwards indicated that the very least those talks were serious and they were possibly also could be fruitful in

the future as well.

Donald Trump the U.S. president, then came out later and said that he wants to make a deal with the Iranians at the same time is also ramping up the

military pressure as well. While all that is going on here in Munich not only have Reza Pahlavi on the stage later with Christiane Amanpour, you

also have a lot of demonstrations that are happening here as well by the Iranian diaspora, sort of looking to see what the future could look like.

However, the big question is whether or not any of that is going to happen. Certainly if you listen to the words of the U.S. president, he says that

there could be military action against the Islamic Republic of Iran, but he also says that that is not what he wants. He wants to make an agreement

with the Iranians and the Iranians certainly have warned that if it does come to a war, if it does come to a military confrontation, that first of

all they're ready, and the second of all, it would be one that would be very painful for the United States and one that would take a very long

time.

ANDERSON: Good to have you, Fred. Thank you.

Venezuela's acting president says she believes Nicolas Maduro is still the country's legitimate leader. While that disagreement with the White House

isn't getting in the way of business. U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright, on a visit to Venezuela, defended U.S. oil prospects there, even though the

country's democratic future, in inverted commas, is still very unclear.

Stefano Pozzebon brings us this report.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

STEFANO POZZEBON, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: We're at an oil-producing facility in eastern Venezuela called Petro Independencia, and on Thursday, the

Secretary of Energy Chris Wright is visiting this oil facility together with the acting president of Venezuela, Delcy Rodriguez. It's a stunning

reversal. Consider that it's been only 40 days since U.S. Delta Forces picked up Rodriguez's predecessor, Nicolas Maduro, in the middle of the

night to take him to New York City, and now the secretary of energy is visiting together, side by side, hand in hand almost, they are travelling

on the same van with the acting president.

And that the company that is running this facility, Chevron, has been telling us that they believe the potential here could be of up to 300,000

barrels a day. Currently, they're producing only 40,000 barrels of crude oil a day. But both the secretary and the acting president are telling us

that they hope to overcome the obstacles that are in the way to that goal.

Chevron is telling us that they are producing around 40,000 barrels a day here, but the potential could be up to 300,000 barrels a day. What do you

think is the biggest obstacle that we need to overcome in order to reach that goal?

CHRIS WRIGHT, U.S. ENERGY SECRETARY: It's just to get the political and economic arrangements as smooth as possible between our countries, but

there is no question that Chevron can ramp this facility.

[10:40:08]

Chevron and PDVSA can ramp this facility, this area, to 300,000 barrels a day, no question about it.

DELCY RODRIGUEZ, VENEZUELAN ACTING PRESIDENT (through translator): We are working on a very fast-paced agenda to consolidate by national cooperation.

It is what is important for both the United States and Venezuela that our countries, our peoples, benefit from these partnerships. Chevron has been

in Venezuela for over 100 years, and we are doing extraordinary work as the partners that we are, improving production, improving facilities,

infrastructure, maintenance.

This is the way forward. This is the path of cooperation, and it is the agenda for a long-term productive partnership. It's what I mean when I say

that no obstacle or impediment should hinder this productive path that we are on.

POZZEBON: The reversal compared to just a couple of months ago and the full rhetorical warfare between Venezuela and the government of Nicolas Maduro

and the United States, and the idea that now the two of them are working side by side is perhaps a symbol of how quick the transformation in this

country has been so far.

For CNN, this is Stefano Pozzebon, Anzoategui, Venezuela.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ANDERSON: We are just hours away from what appears to be the inevitable. A partial U.S. government shutdown that's set to hit the Department of

Homeland Security. The DHS on track to run out of money at midnight Eastern Time tonight. Senate Democrats blocked the most recent funding bill on

Thursday and they continue to demand reforms to the Trump administration's immigration enforcement policies.

And with no deal in sight, lawmakers in both chambers of Congress left town on Thursday for what is an 11-day scheduled recess. Worth noting, even in

the event of a shutdown, both ICE and Customs and Border Protection would still continue to operate.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. HAKEEM JEFFRIES (D-NY): Funding for ICE and the Department of Homeland Security should not move forward in the absence of dramatic changes that

are bold, meaningful and transformational. Period. Full stop.

REP. MIKE JOHNSON (R-LA): They want to impose more pain on the American people. For what? I have no idea. The ICE funding is already done for the

entirety of the Trump administration. So they're not affecting that in any way.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Well, the co-owner of football behemoth Manchester United has offered a lukewarm apology for what he said about British immigration.

CNN's Salma Abdelaziz reports Jim Ratcliffe's comments offended many people across Britain all the way up to the prime minister.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SALMA ABDELAZIZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: One of Britain's wealthiest men and co- owner of one of the most popular football clubs in the world has drawn a firestorm of criticism for making hateful comments towards immigrants. Take

a listen for yourself.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JIM RATCLIFFE, MANCHESTER UNITED CO-OWNER: The U.K. has been colonized. It's costing too much money. It will cause --

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: It's been colonized?

RATCLIFFE: It will cost -- well, yes. The U.K. has been colonized by immigrants really, isn't it?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ABDELAZIZ: That is Jim Ratcliffe. He is the billionaire co-owner of Manchester United and he's making false claims there about Britain's

population. It actually only grew by about 2.5 million since 2020. And that's according to government estimates.

Now, his comments drew a great deal of criticism, including from the Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who called on him to apologize and described his

words as wrong and hateful. We also heard from Manchester United. The football club issued a statement that said, "It prides itself on being

inclusive and welcoming. That reflects the unity and resilience of all the communities we are so privileged to represent."

Now, Ratcliffe did say he was sorry for his choice of words, but in a statement he went on to say, "It is important to raise the issue of

controlled and well-managed immigration that supports economic growth." Now, English soccer's governing body is going to review these comments to

see if it brought the game into disrepute. There was also backlash from Manchester United fans, some of whom accused the co-owner of hypocrisy

because some of the players on the Man U team come from non-British backgrounds.

Now Mr. Ratcliffe is the founder of a petrochemical company, and he's estimated to be worth 17 billion pounds, or about $23 billion, and in 2020

he moved to tax-free Monaco.

Salma Abdelaziz, CNN, London

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ANDERSON: Well, still to come on CNN, the Olympics aren't the only games going on right now.

[10:45:00]

We head to the water for a thrilling sailing competition at the 2026 Open Masters Games here in Abu Dhabi.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANDERSON: Well, right now more than 25,000 competitors from around the world are gathering here in Abu Dhabi for what is billed as the region's

largest ever international multi-sport event. Sports stars are competing for medals across 38 sports in the Open Masters Games.

CNN's Matias Grez discovered some of the most dramatic action has been in a sport with its origins in the distant past. Have a look at this.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MATIAS GREZ, CNN PRODUCER (voice-over): Dhow sailing boats were used in this region for thousands of years as the workhorse of the waves, carrying

ceramics, spices and pearls around the Gulf and beyond.

Dhow racing has helped to keep the traditional sailing skills alive, with some events offering multi-million dollar prizes. There are no high tech

hydrofoils here. This is sailing Emirati style.

I'm just about to meet Ahmed, a skipper or a Nakhuda of one of these dhows who'll be taking part in the race later this afternoon here in Abu Dhabi at

the Masters Games.

Hi.

AHMED ALMARZOOQI, DHOW OWNER AND SKIPPER: Hi.

GREZ: Matias.

ALMARZOOQI: Ahmed.

GREZ: Pleasure to meet you.

ALMARZOOQI: Nice to meet you.

GREZ: How are you?

ALMARZOOQI: You're welcome.

GREZ: Good day good day for sailing?

ALMARZOOQI: Yes, we're happy to sail. So we have this one. The rudder like the steering of the boat. And this one, the tiller extension to help when

he push. When he push, the boats go left. When he pull, the boat goes going right. So steering of the boat. And we have another things like the crew.

The crew, they make balancing in the boat. So the boat should be flat on the water. So the sail is huge on the boat. Should be, you know like

balancing on the boat because it will quick, make capsize.

GREZ: So how old is your son?

ALMARZOOQI: My son is now four years.

GREZ: And do you find, it sounds like you had a real interest anyway, right? Does he have the say -- you don't have to like --

ALMARZOOQI: No, no, I didn't push him. Even if he see like father, like, you know, son like father. Last five race let's say I came first in this

boat.

GREZ: Ahmed was telling us this morning that there are a lot of tactics involved, especially when it comes to rivalries at the start line. He said

his rivals have in the past tried to cut him off at the start line because they know that he's the favorite often to win these races.

Wow, there we go. It's incredible how quickly they got up to top speed, isn't it?

[10:50:01]

Oh, no. Early capsize. I think the rescue boats being called in already. Oh, no. These guys have got their sails stuck in the water. The distance

between first place and last place after, what, a minute already? It's incredible. I mean, watching these guys from up close, you can see just how

much effort it takes to keep that boat upright. I mean, they were practically leaning back with their backs almost touching the water at some

point.

I mean, the skill and physical strength to have to do that for 30 minutes is incredible. It's mad how frantic the start of that race is. I could not

believe how quickly some of those dhows set off. I mean look how fast we're having to go to catch up to the leaders in this speedboat.

The last couple of boats are just crossing the finishing line now. These two orange buoys. We're just about to head on to shore to find out how

Ahmed did.

Ahmed, what happened? No. Three times. He capsized at the start. Oh, no.

(Voice-over): So no trophy today for Team Ahmed. But just take a look at the teams who did make it to the winner's podium. The top three crews were

composed overwhelmingly of kids, some even as young as Ahmed's 4-year-old son Ali. But Ahmed's defeat didn't knock the wind out of his sails as he

returned the next day to win the 22-foot dhow competition alongside his young crew.

As the sails were furled for another day, Emiratis could be encouraged that the future of their sailing tradition remains in good hands. Small but

steady and skillful hands.

Matias Grez, CNN, Abu Dhabi.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANDERSON: Just in time for Valentine's Day, a romantic throwback. A U.K. company wants people to put down their phones and make a love connection

the old fashioned way. Well, in person, that's in person.

CNN's Anna Cooban reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Firstly, thank you guys so much for coming tonight.

ANNA COOBAN, CNN BUSINESS AND ECONOMICS REPORTER (voice-over): It's after hours at a comedy club in Central London, except tonight, this audience is

engaged in a far more serious pursuit, finding love.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Best case, my husband is here and the love of my life, and it's great. Worst case, I've met some -- made some new friends.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Really chill. I'm just hoping to have a couple of drinks, talk to a couple of people.

COOBAN (voice-over): Weary and worn down by dating apps, these singles are banking on some real-life connection.

ELIN SIAN, LOOKING FOR LOVE: I'm a romantic. I want to be with a partner. I want to be with someone who's like, big and bold. And I feel like people in

London are very nonchalant and very cool, and that they want to lay their heart on the line.

COOBAN (voice-over): Assisting tonight is an algorithm.

Do you fall in love quickly?

SIAN: Yes, love at first sight.

COOBAN (voice-over): Elin fills out a questionnaire by Matchbox, a software that claims to pair people based on their values.

SIAN: It's better to have loved and lost, and to never have loved. Yes. Submit.

[10:55:05]

COOBAN (voice-over): With answers submitted, it's now time to mingle before these singles meet their match.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I was like (INAUDIBLE), like yes, I met my husband on here.

COOBAN (voice-over): Hosting tonight is Thursday, a dating company that used to match people via, you guessed it, an app, until they dumped it last

year.

JAMES ORMEROD, HEAD OF LONDON EVENTS, THURSDAY: Everyone is sick of the swiping endlessly, only to get maybe a couple responses. The dating events

is basically taking it back to basics. You have to make those in real life connections, and people are literally, I can't produce enough events for

the demand that's out there.

COOBAN (voice-over): Thursday says it's made more than 20,000 matches using this algorithm.

SIAN: Got my match. Finally, here it is. I think it's him.

COOBAN (voice-over): And the verdict --

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The age gap, it's possibly this far.

SIAN: Why? It's not non-negotiable. We can on it.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We can work on it.

COOBAN (voice-over): For many in this room, the search continues with or without an app,

Anna Cooban, CNN, London.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ANDERSON: Well, that is it for CONNECT THE WORLD. Stay with CNN. "ONE WORLD" is up next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

END